Harness



(No Model.)

E. vE. WHIPPLE.

HARNESSlr Patented Jan. 2.7, 1885 N. PETERS. Pham-Llhugmpher, wnslnngwn, D, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EFFINGER E. WHIPPLE, OF EATON RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming partpf Letters Patent No. 311,399, dated January 27, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EFEINGER E. WHIPPLE, of Eaton Rapids, in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, whichforni a part of this specification.

This inventionv relates to a combination,with the haines of a harness, of shoulder-pads attached to the hames, whereby a separate collar may be dispensed with.

In the illustrative drawings, Figure 1 shows the device applied to a horse. Fig. 2 is a front View ofthe device. Fig. 3 is a transverse section ot' one ofthe haines and pads, showing a pivotal connection thereof and Fig. 4L is a transverse section of the neck-pad, showing its connections with the haine-straps.

A A are the hames of a harness, connected at the top and bottoni by straps or links c a, of any desired construction, by which the contrivance may be removably and adjustably applied to the horse.

l5 is a neckpad for supporting the hames in proper position vertically. Said neck-pad will usually be attached to the hame-strap a, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, so as to be changeable as to its vertical position on the hames by shifting said straps from one to another of the retaining-loops ce?. The neck-pad B may, however, be independently attached, either adj ustably or otherwise, directly to the haines.

C C are shoulder-pads fitted to bear against the shoulders of the horse on either side of the neck, and centrally pivoted to the hames by pivot-bolts C,or other suitable devices for the purpose, in order that the said pads may turn laterally with reference to the hames in the plane of their bearing-surfaces, so as to conform to the shape of the parts against which they rest, and may yield freely to the movements of the shoulders and neck of the horse. Said pads are necessarily rigid, because they receive pressure from the han1es only at or around the pivot O. They may be entirely of Wood for heavy harness; or they may be stuffed with hair or other substance, as indicated in Fig. 3, wherein the pad is composed of a rigid back plate, C2, with which the pivot of the llames adjacent thereto, and to permit the pad to turn freely upon its pivot. The pivotal points of the pads are preferably located upon the hames at or about opposite the points at which the traces are secured thereto, so that the draft upon the hames will come in line with the pivots, and any tendency in the hames to rotate upon the pads will be thereby obviated.

The important advantage of the construction described is, that the pads will adjust themselves so as to fit perfectly' the surfaces of the neck or shoulder of the horse against which they rest, and will also yield or turn laterally upon their pivotal points, so as to follow the movements of the shoulder and neck when the horse is in motion, so that chafing or other 'injury to such parts is therefore much less liable to occur than with ordinary collars, which, as' usually constructed, seldom t perfectly, on account of the wide variation in the form of the shoulders in different horses.

Short collars or pads constructed as described possess the additional advantage of being much cooler than those ordinarily used, and for this reason, also, are less liable to inj ure the horse.

I am aware that shouldenpads as heretofore constructed have been pivoted to the hannes of a harness in such manner as to permit said pads to turn in a plane transverse to their bearing-faces, and. such construction is not, therefore, claimed in this invention.

I claim as my invention# The combination, with the hannes A, of shoulder-pads C and bolts C', pivotally connecting the pads with the haines, whereby the said pads are adapted to rotate in the direction ofthe plane oftheir bearing-surfaces, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EFFINGER E. WHIPPLE. Witnesses:

A. C. DUrroN, FRANK H. CLAY. 

